‘Lessons Must Be Learned’ From Illness Problems At Irish Hospitals

Expert Calls For Answers Over Outbreaks

24.04.2012

Experts in illness claims at Irwin Mitchell have called for lessons to be learned after reports revealed the impact that outbreaks have had on both the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and Londonderry’s Altnagelvin Hospital.

According to the Irish Times, around 300 patients and staff members have been affected by the gastric illness problems at Beaumont Hospital in the past month, with many suffering various symptoms including stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea.

Altnagelvin Hospital also revealed earlier this month how it had closed an elderly ward due to the spread of a vomiting and diarrhoea bug affecting patients.

Spokesmen from both hospitals revealed how the sites had restricted visitors to the hospitals.

Elizabeth Tetzner, a specialist in illness cases at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Illnesses of this kind can often have a significant impact on those affected, with our work highlighting how people can see their long-term health suffer as a result of such issues.

“While it is clear that steps have been taken to address the outbreaks in both cases, we hope that the next step will be to not only identify how these problems emerged but also consider whether they could be avoided in the future.”